Mr BALCH - 2000-08-17
The Top End hosts regular visits by military personnel for training exercises, and particularly over the last 12 months with East Timor we have seen many military personnel in town. Can the minister advise the House of a planned visit to the Top End by US Marines?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, we have had many visits over the years from different defence forces around the world, including our own, of course, and those of our near neighbours. But I can say that the US Marines are about to invade the north. An estimated 5000 men and women could be landing here in a total of five ships forming an amphibious ready group. The Marines are part of the Tarawa amphibious ready group. Tarawa is the name of the largest ship in the fleet. I believe it is somewhat like a mini aircraft carrier.
Their exercise will take place in Darwin and the surrounding areas between 7 and 13 September. Of those 5000 men and women here for the operation, some 3000 will be based in Darwin. A lot of the naval personnel from those ships will be having shore leave. The other 2000 service personnel, the US Marine component, will be away from Darwin at locations including Mount Bundy and Kangaroo Flats. Marines from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit will be conducting sustainment skills training exercises. RAAF base Darwin too will be involved, taking 22 aircraft including five Harrier jets. The balance will be predominantly helicopters.
It is obvious that the requirements for food and services and supplies will be of a very high priority for those visiting defence forces, and I imagine that they will want to enjoy quite a considerable component of R & R while they are here during that exercise. I am advised that it is calculated that each of the visiting personnel will spend about $150 a day on personal goods and souvenirs and restaurants and so forth. That is going to bring about $5m into the Darwin community, which is a major boost for our economy.
The operation will be a spectacular sight, I imagine. Tarawa carries with it three LCACs, which are very, very large hovercraft, and will be discharging them somewhere off Lee Point. Each hovercraft carries four LAVs, light armoured vehicles, and a number of military jeeps. They will be doing a simulated shore landing with the hovercraft discharging those vehicles.
My Department of Industries and Business has been working very closely with a number of local community organisations and industry organisations to gear up in readiness for this very substantial exercise. We have been talking to the Darwin Business Association, Darwin City Promotions, the Chamber of Commerce and the Darwin Region Tourist Association to ensure that the visit is a successful one, both from an economic and certainly from a social point of view. We have also been working with Hollings, the US Navy shipping agents who are presently in Darwin having a look at the needs for servicing the visiting unit. We believe that this might be a catalyst for future exercises of this nature, obviously bringing great economic benefit to the Territory.
I am advised that in preparation for the visit two officers from the quarantine unit of DPIF travelled to San Diego to inspect and pre-clear the Marine Corps vehicles and landing craft and what have you, and to brief personnel on what they can bring into the country. We are very particular about our quarantine. All of that has been pre-checked so that when these people arrive they can get straight on with the exercise.
On behalf of all Territorians I take this opportunity to welcome these US defence personnel to the Territory. I hope they have a very successful exercise.
Members: Hear, hear!
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, we have had many visits over the years from different defence forces around the world, including our own, of course, and those of our near neighbours. But I can say that the US Marines are about to invade the north. An estimated 5000 men and women could be landing here in a total of five ships forming an amphibious ready group. The Marines are part of the Tarawa amphibious ready group. Tarawa is the name of the largest ship in the fleet. I believe it is somewhat like a mini aircraft carrier.
Their exercise will take place in Darwin and the surrounding areas between 7 and 13 September. Of those 5000 men and women here for the operation, some 3000 will be based in Darwin. A lot of the naval personnel from those ships will be having shore leave. The other 2000 service personnel, the US Marine component, will be away from Darwin at locations including Mount Bundy and Kangaroo Flats. Marines from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit will be conducting sustainment skills training exercises. RAAF base Darwin too will be involved, taking 22 aircraft including five Harrier jets. The balance will be predominantly helicopters.
It is obvious that the requirements for food and services and supplies will be of a very high priority for those visiting defence forces, and I imagine that they will want to enjoy quite a considerable component of R & R while they are here during that exercise. I am advised that it is calculated that each of the visiting personnel will spend about $150 a day on personal goods and souvenirs and restaurants and so forth. That is going to bring about $5m into the Darwin community, which is a major boost for our economy.
The operation will be a spectacular sight, I imagine. Tarawa carries with it three LCACs, which are very, very large hovercraft, and will be discharging them somewhere off Lee Point. Each hovercraft carries four LAVs, light armoured vehicles, and a number of military jeeps. They will be doing a simulated shore landing with the hovercraft discharging those vehicles.
My Department of Industries and Business has been working very closely with a number of local community organisations and industry organisations to gear up in readiness for this very substantial exercise. We have been talking to the Darwin Business Association, Darwin City Promotions, the Chamber of Commerce and the Darwin Region Tourist Association to ensure that the visit is a successful one, both from an economic and certainly from a social point of view. We have also been working with Hollings, the US Navy shipping agents who are presently in Darwin having a look at the needs for servicing the visiting unit. We believe that this might be a catalyst for future exercises of this nature, obviously bringing great economic benefit to the Territory.
I am advised that in preparation for the visit two officers from the quarantine unit of DPIF travelled to San Diego to inspect and pre-clear the Marine Corps vehicles and landing craft and what have you, and to brief personnel on what they can bring into the country. We are very particular about our quarantine. All of that has been pre-checked so that when these people arrive they can get straight on with the exercise.
On behalf of all Territorians I take this opportunity to welcome these US defence personnel to the Territory. I hope they have a very successful exercise.
Members: Hear, hear!
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016